Instructors: Adam Gustavson, Ashly Lovett, John English, Dale Stephanos, and more.
Program
Mentorship
All Skill Levels
Learn how to tell original compelling stories with your art for a broad variety of visual arts industries.
Length: 3 courses, 10 weeks each
Instructors: Raymond Bonilla, Cassandra Kim, & John English
Program
Mentorship
All Skill Levels
Networking opportunities, finding gallery representation, and learning how to sell your art is the backbone of this course.
Length: 3 courses, 10 weeks each
Instructor: Dustin D'arnault
Illustration
Mentorship
all skill levels
Take your passion for storytelling, character design, prop design, and creating production art for film and television to the next level.
Length: 10 weeks
Instructor: Adam Gustavson
Illustration
Mentorship
Beginner
Establish fundamental skills for advanced drawing and painting techniques for various visual arts industries.
Length: 10 weeks
Instructor: Ashly Lovett
Illustration
Mentorship
intermediate
Develop a process for creating compelling and engaging original stories, a critical component of visual narrative.
Length: 10 Weeks
Instructors: Audrey Benjaminsen, Sterling Hundley, Dale Stephanos, John English
Illustration
Mentorship
Advanced
Identify your dream illustration clients, and pursue a career doing what you love with help from a brain trust of pro illustrators.
Length: 10 Weeks
Instructors: Ray Bonilla, Cassandra Kim, & John English
Gallery Arts
Mentorship
Beginner
Equip yourself with tools and skills to build a career and thrive as a working fine artist.
Length: 10 Weeks
Instructors: Ray Bonilla, Cassandra Kim, & John English
Gallery Arts
Mentorship
Intermediate
Equip yourself with tools and skills to build a career and thrive as a working fine artist.
Length: 10 Weeks
Instructors: Ray Bonilla, Cassandra Kim, & John English
Gallery Arts
Mentorship
Advanced
Networking opportunities, finding gallery representation, and learning how to sell your art is the backbone of this course.
Length: 10 Weeks
Instructor: Dale Stephanos
Illustration
Workshop
All Skill Levels
This course demystifies the ins-and-outs of capturing likeness in your portraiture, led by one of the best working portrait artists.
Length: 5 weeks
Instructor: Adam Gustavson
Illustration
Workshop
All Skill Levels
A comprehensive, hands-on guide to creating your first children’s book.
Length: 5 weeks
Instructor: Ashly Lovett
Workshop
All Skill Levels
A hands-on guide to planning and launching a successful crowdfunding campaign
Length: 4 weeks
Instructor: John English
Illustration
Workshop
All Skill Levels
Learn and master the steps to drawing the human form with confidence, skill, & expression
Length: 4 Weeks
Instructor: Sterling Hundley
Illustration
Workshop
All Skill Levels
Strap your sketchbook to a rocket—bring ideas to life & discover your artistic voice.
Length: 5 weeks
Instructor: Edward Kinsella
Illustration
Workshop
All Skill Levels
Design & illustrate impactful cover art for films, posters, books, and albums
Length: 5 weeks
When your instructors work with the biggest names in the industry, you can trust that your class is loaded with golden wisdom and deep insights, giving you a competitive edge.
With weekly live classes, group critiques, and a private community platform, you’ll have access to the resources and support system you need to thrive.
Ask questions, join the discussion, and gain industry knowledge from the best in the game. Next semester features these rockstar artists. Illustration & Fine Arts Students can access all guest artists.
Nate Sweitzer attended the Illustration Program at VAP. During his enrollment, Nate identified The Folio Society as his dream client. His instructors helped him prepare a portfolio and shortly after he was hired for their recently published edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. His illustrations were exhibited by the Society of Illustrators in 2025. He was also recently featured in Communication Arts', "Fresh Artists".
Recognized by
Shortly after attending our Fine Arts & Gallery program, Erin found representation with RJD Gallery. Erin has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine (Jan/Feb 2023 issue), Artist Network Magazine, The Best of Drawing.
Recognized by
Peter's work has been featured in top exhibitions like the LA and NY Society of Illustrators, 3x3, and American Illustration. His talent earned him a full-page commission from The LA Times for a Grammys feature on Adele and Beyoncé—an opportunity that followed a leap in skill after studying with Visual Arts Passage.
Recognized by
Zack's work has won the Folio Book Illustration Award, the Gold Award from the Society of Illustrators, has been featured in Communication Arts, 3x3, Spectrum, American Illustration, ImagineFX, the Society of Illustrators, the Bologna Children's Book Fair Illustrator's Gallery, and is part of Les Maîtres de l’Imaginaire (“the Masters of the Imagination”) collection.
Recognized by
Jeff was selected as the featured exhibitor at The Mezzanine Gallery. He also received recognition from the state of Delaware for his work, showcasing it on the state's website.
The whole of the VAP experience thus far has been extraordinary. I couldn’t have asked for a better class! It allows you to fully immerse yourself in visual arts, and is a treasure trove of information regarding illustration, ideation, and the industry!
At Visual Arts Passage, this course maximizes your efforts by not only guiding the development of your artistic voice but also clarifying your desired direction in the industry. Because of tremendous support and guidance from the mentors, I had an artwork accepted into the 64th Society Of Illustrators annual and started receiving paying job opportunities from real-world clients.
Visual Arts Passage isn’t just a top pick for online illustration classes, it is my top pick for illustration curriculum period. The combination of inside information, individual mentoring and a small, committed cohort of fellow students is eye-opening and motivating. From day one, the instructors worked to really understand and meet me where I am, and the sequence of classes has propelled me down the path of becoming an illustrator in today’s marketplace. Most importantly perhaps, I’ve seen my confidence grow — helping me to build skills and a sustained creative practice. I’m interested and excited to do this every day.
They meet students where they are at but manage to elicit high-quality results regardless of an artist’s background. Mentors genuinely care about their students’ success and want to help them find where they fit into the Industry. Good people with great insights.
Taking the portfolio development class with Visual Arts Passage was exactly what I was looking for to support my growing art career. I met so many talented individuals during the class that I continue to share my art with. Dale Stephanos and John English gave me the clarity I needed in moving forward in illustration.
This was a deep dive that really helped me push boundaries. I was encouraged to experiment with mediums and styles, developing habits and finding alternative approaches to composing professional art.
I can not recommend them enough. What I have learned with them is all of the things I wish I had gotten in college and have searched for all my life.
There is so much to say l would most likely still not do this organization justice—a fantastic place just to absorb knowledge and compassion towards art creation.
The program has been a tremendous help for me. Getting personal support and lots of in-depth discussions of one’s own work with some of the world’s leading professionals in the field is a true eye opener and a magical experience.
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